--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest benefit of negative…" description: "\"“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery back in.”\" — Oliver Burkeman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png" --- # The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power… ![“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery back in.” quote by Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png) > ““The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery back in.”” [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing uncertainty and doubt can restore wonder, allowing deeper insight and creativity. **In simple terms:** Accepting doubt brings back mystery. Key Takeaway Allow uncertainty to inspire curiosity. Themes uncertainty creativity mindset Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - creative work - problem solving - personal growth - decision making - stress management Key Concepts negative capability psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How does doubt fuel your creativity? - When have you let mystery guide you? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on certainty can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Negative thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-thinking/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [True power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-power/) ## Related quotes > [I want each poem to be ambiguous enough that its meaning can shift, depending on the reader's own frame of reference, and depending on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-want-each-poem-to-be-ambiguous-enough-that-its-meaning-can-shift/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [I think for me in terms of this kind of dichotomy you have to hold the sense of negative capability in your mind -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-waldman/i-think-for-me-in-terms-of-this-kind-of-dichotomy-you-have-to-hold/) [Anne Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-waldman/) > [I believe strongly in what John Keats called negative capability: the trait or practice that allows a poet to remain in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-believe-strongly-in-what-john-keats-called-negative-capability-the/) [James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/) > [“One of the worst things about being a motivational speaker, or any other kind of advocate for the power of positive thinking, must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/one-of-the-worst-things-about-being-a-motivational-speaker-or-any/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“If you find someone you're in love with that's also your friend, wouldn't that be the greatest benefit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-hart/if-you-find-someone-you-re-in-love-with-that-s-also-your-friend/) Ellie Hart > [To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is ... the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mitchell/the-greatest-benefit-derived-from-the-study-of-science-is-that-it/) [Maria Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mitchell/) > [“The greatest benefit we owe to the artist, whether painter, poet, or novelist, is the extension of our sympathies… Art is the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/the-greatest-benefit-we-owe-to-the-artist-whether-painter-poet-or/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“What is the greatest benefit in the world? The association with good people. Those who are considered somewhat worthy of reverence by society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-the-greatest-benefit-in-the-world-the-association-with-good/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Oliver Burkeman > [Ceaseless optimism about the future only makes for a greater shock when things go wrong; by fighting to maintain only positive beliefs about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/ceaseless-optimism-about-the-future-only-makes-for-a-greater-shock/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“And here lies the essential between Stoicism and the modern-day 'cult of optimism.' For the Stoics, the ideal state of mind was tranquility, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/and-here-lies-the-essential-between-stoicism-and-the-modern-day-cult/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“By the second day, the song lyrics had faded, but in their place came darker irritations. 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This is one of those traits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/all-these-counterproductive-ways-of-thinking-about-failure-manifest/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“Ceaseless optimism about the future only makes for a greater shock when things go wrong; by fighting to maintain only positive beliefs about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/ceaseless-optimism-about-the-future-only-makes-for-a-greater-shock-2/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [What made Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein such creative geniuses? It wasn't reading books or watching YouTube talks about How To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/what-made-leonardo-da-vinci-thomas-edison-and-albert-einstein-such/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“Perhaps you don’t need telling that self-help books, the modern-day apotheosis of the quest for happiness, are among the things that fail to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/perhaps-you-don-t-need-telling-that-self-help-books-the-modern-day/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [Who says you need to wait until you 'feel like' doing something in order to start doing it? The problem, from this perspective, isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/who-says-you-need-to-wait-until-you-feel-like-doing-something-in/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“Incremental theory’ people are different. Because they think of abilities as emerging through tackling challenges, the experience of failure has a completely different meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/incremental-theory-people-are-different-because-they-think-of/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [It is illuminating to note, here, how the daily rituals and working routines of prolific authors and artists - people who really do get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/it-is-illuminating-to-note-here-how-the-daily-rituals-and-working/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“Pilots were not excused all these rigorous new checks, and when Woodie Menear’s turn came, the security screener expressed concern about the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/pilots-were-not-excused-all-these-rigorous-new-checks-and-when-woodie/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“...no matter how much success you may experience in life, your eventual story - no offence intended - will be one of failure. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/no-matter-how-much-success-you-may-experience-in-life-your-eventual/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [The routines of almost all famous writers, from Charles Darwin to John Grisham, similarly emphasise specific starting times, or number of hours worked, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-routines-of-almost-all-famous-writers-from-charles-darwin-to-john/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) > [“I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought, ‘What the hell good would that do?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/i-was-going-to-buy-a-copy-of-the-power-of-positive-thinking-and-then-2/) [Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) [Explore all 47 Oliver Burkeman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/) ## More Negative thinking quotes > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“If you believe that the world is conspiring against you, it will just do that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-believe-that-the-world-is-conspiring-against-you-it-will-just/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Any analysis of 'sin' or 'evil' or 'demonic influence' or 'negative thinking' or 'systemic evil' or 'antisocial behavior' that fails to see the lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/any-analysis-of-sin-or-evil-or-demonic-influence-or-negative-thinking/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“What is crucial is what you think when you fail, using the power of “non-negative thinking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seligman-martin/what-is-crucial-is-what-you-think-when-you-fail-using-the-power-of/) Seligman Martin > [Running fills a need so we make fewer demands on others. Running reveals the roots of negative thinking, so the weeds can be pulled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/running-fills-a-need-so-we-make-fewer-demands-on-others-running/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [Negative thinking keeps us from enjoying life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/negative-thinking-keeps-us-from-enjoying-life/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“To build self-esteem, you have to outface your negative beliefs about yourself and change them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asmaa-dokmak/to-build-self-esteem-you-have-to-outface-your-negative-beliefs-about/) Asmaa Dokmak > [“We become what we think. If you have a negative thinking, stop thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/we-become-what-we-think-if-you-have-a-negative-thinking-stop-thinking/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“The hamster friend said being able to do front rolls didn't make the hamster as good as Bruce Lee, which was not a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/the-hamster-friend-said-being-able-to-do-front-rolls-didn-t-make-the/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“ LOW SELF-ESTEEM Characteristic of most people with social anxiety is low self-esteem. I showed you the sequence in Chapter 1. What is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/low-self-esteem-characteristic-of-most-people-with-social-anxiety-is/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [Negative thinking limits God and our potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/negative-thinking-limits-god-and-our-potential/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“It is not always possible to do away with negative thinking, but with persistence and practice, one can gain mastery over them so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/it-is-not-always-possible-to-do-away-with-negative-thinking-but-with/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) [Browse all 131 Negative thinking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-thinking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery back in.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oliver Burkeman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capability-the-true-power-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Negative thinking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capability-the-true-power-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/oliver-burkeman-14344_negative-thinking_the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capabil_383110.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the true power of negative thinking—is that it lets the mystery…” — Oliver Burkeman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Oliver Burkeman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The greatest benefit of negative capability—the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capability-the-true-power-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/the-greatest-benefit-of-negative-capability-the-true-power-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```